I really wanted to buy a prefab or customizable but I got talked into building in the end. Ended up spending $770 for everything including monitor plus a bunch of accessories. Even getting mostly low tier parts I think I'm getting more machine than I intended on buying from the start of this, but still managed to spend less than had I gone with a pre-built, I think.
Here's the good stuff:
CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103727
mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131872
GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127730
Hopefully it lasts me a good way thru this upcoming console cycle cause I'm pretty much tapped out for consumer electronics purchases for a good long while.